OneCare failed to track community health programs, auditor says

The state’s accountable care organization produced no evidence of results from some of the community health programs it invested in, according to an analysis from the state auditor’s office.

OneCare Vermont “did not reliably monitor or accurately report” the community-based initiatives it promised to fund, including providing fresh produce to patients, helping house homeless families and helping to coordinate care.

State Auditor Doug Hoffer sent a memo detailing the shortcomings to the regulatory Green Mountain Care Board last week. OneCare “did not satisfy the GMCB’s certification criteria concerning community-based initiatives,” he wrote. The lack of data leaves regulators — and Vermonters — unable to be sure whether the programs are actually working, the letter explained.

OneCare was launched in 2016 to improve the health of Vermonters by focusing on preventative care. It collects money from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance and pays doctors and hospitals a set fee for each patient, rather than for each visit. As part of that shift, the for-profit organization has promised to invest in community health initiatives, including subsidizing fresh vegetables, investing in programs that promote active lifestyles, and helping coordinate between different health agencies.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2019/10/24/onecare-failed-to-track-community-health-programs-auditor-says/